How-to3 min readBy Medlar
How to brief an AI agent: the one-sentence skill
The better your brief, the better the result. A short guide to writing sentences an agent can actually run.
Briefing an AI coworker is a skill — and a quick one to learn. The goal is a sentence that names the outcome, the scope, and any constraint.
A weak brief
"Do my leads."
A strong brief
"Find 10 Ankara digital agencies with 10–50 people, pull the decision-maker for each, and put them in a sheet."
Notice what changed: a clear outcome (a sheet of contacts), a scope (10, Ankara, 10–50 people), and an implied format.
Three habits
- Name the deliverable. "…and draft the email" beats "…and reach out."
- Bound it. Numbers, dates, and filters keep the agent focused.
- Say the constraint. "Only currently-operating companies", "in our tone", "don't send anything."
You'll get a feel for it after a few runs. And because writes wait for your approval by default, a slightly-off brief costs you a click, not a mistake.